Beryl had a wonderful sense of humour,
she could make you cry buckets one minute
and rock with laughter the next!.
Much like Our Gracie used to do!.

Beryl's exceptional poetry about Gracie Fields life - Royalty - Stars of Stage, Screen and Radio - and her own wonderful life, was all written down by her on hundreds of pieces of scrap paper and each one was memorised by this remarkable lady.

Tell her the title of any one of her poems and she would recite it as though she had only just written it even if she had written it seventy six years ago when she wrote her very first poem at the age of six!.

Beryl never got the chance to meet her idol Gracie but she met backstage with Gracie's brother Tommy on many occasions. Although they never met Gracie and Beryl corresponded several times and Gracie certainly had a love in her heart for Beryl.

Christmas card from Gracie to Beryl
with the appropriate Gracie theme
'everyone singing aloud'!.
~~~~~~~~~

This short letter from Gracie says it all.
~~~~~~~~~

"To All Intents And Purposes"

Just like 'Our Gracie' Miss Beryl Down had a loving affection for all children, especially children who's lives are tragically cut short due to illness or misfortune.

The whole purpose of creating this web site is to hopefully raise some much needed funds for
'Little Bridge House' Children's Hospice South West
which was very close to Beryl's heart.

Children's Hospice South West was set up by Eddie Farwell and his late wife Jill in 1991 after spending many years travelling to Helen House in Oxford with their own two life limited children.

They felt from their own experiences, that there was a huge need to provide this special service for families in the South West and so with great support and encouragement from family, friends and local people, Little Bridge House opened in 1995, and instantly provided support for up to 200 families in the South West with life limited children.

Eddie: "We opened the doors of our first hospice, Little Bridge House in Barnstaple, in 1995. As the only children's hospice in the South West of England, we support over 200 children and their families. We offer them respite, relaxation, friendship and a sense of community. We can share the 24-hour care of a very sick child and support the family in bereavement".

The demands on Little Bridge House Hospice increased to the extent that there was a vital need for a second children's hospice....

....'Charlton Farm' - North Somerset

This second hospice for Children's Hospice South West was born out of the growing need to provide additional children's hospice care in the South West. The demand was outgrowing Little Bridge House and so Jill and Eddie Farwell set about raising funds for the second hospice in October 2004.

Eddie: "Through the huge generosity of our supporters, £15 million was raised in order to build, equip and endow it with initial running costs, Charlton Farm opened its doors to the first families on April 30th 2007 and follows the same principles upon which Little Bridge House was built and both hospices are run as one organisation ensuring that the ethos, aims and objectives of both care teams are the same".

Charlton Farm is nestled in the hillside of Wraxall and provides a secluded and beautiful setting in which families can take some time out and just enjoying spending time as a family.

It is hoped that the publication of Beryl Down's wonderful poetry to this web site could help support the everyday running costs of Children's Hospice South West.

Donations, however small, would be gratefully accepted when sent to;

Emma Puckey,
Legacy Fundraising Manager,
Children's Hospice Southwest,
Little Bridge House, Redlands Road,
Fremington, Barnstaple, North Devon, EX31-2PZ. England.
Tel. 01271-325270.

Click anywhere in picture
for insight into the wonderful world of Children's Hospice South West.
~~~~

Beryl's lifetime of poetry is being published to this web site
on a regular basis in five categories which are entitled :-

"Lancashire Life"
(Scenes from the Twenties and Thirties)
~~~
"Stars In My Eyes"
(Stars of Stage - Screen and Radio)
~~~
"Regally Remembered"
(The Royal Family)
~~~
"Memories Most Precious"
(Beryl's own life)
~~~
"All in Rhyme - The Life of Dame Gracie Fields"
(Beryl's "Masterpiece" as one lady, Athena Tooze from North Carolina, USA, views it.)
~~~
Also published to this site:
"Beryl's Treasured Photograph Album"
&
"Keedie - A Bright New Star in Beryl's Eyes"
(Keedie is Miss Beryl Down's close, and much admired, neighbour)

For information on any of the contents of this website

Please e-mail me at the following address:-

[ davehaddock@ourgracie.com ]

I will do my best to assist in any way I can.